The Nationals look to improve to 5-0 against the Giants tonight at AT&T Park.

When he takes the mound tonight for the bottom of the first inning, Jordan Zimmermann will do so owning the best ERA in the National League. Thanks to the pounding his teammates gave Ryan Vogelsong last night, Zimmermann's 2.35 ERA now ranks best in the league among all qualifying starters. It's a real testament to the right-hander's talent and determination that he finds himself in such a position.

Zimmermann would happily take 50 percent of the run support the Nationals gave Gio Gonzalez last night (that would still be seven runs). Shoot, he might even settle for 33 percent of last night's output. The challenge won't be easy, with left-hander Madison Bumgarner (12-8, 3.08) on the mound for the Giants.

As you know, I'm not in San Francisco for this series. Enjoy another late-night game and the conversation…

Found this interesting graphic. It would be interesting to watch our new catcher in pitch framing. Notice the issue with strike calls on the outside to lefties (e.g., Harper). I think last night's call was more a function of everyone (except maybe Bryce) wanting to go home with a 14-2 game and COLD weather–rather than a "rookie" strike zone. I wonder if there is anything a hitter can do to counter this optical illusion?pitch framinghttp://www.lookoutlanding.com/2012/8/14/3242786/jose-molina-jesus-montero-pitch-framing

There was a comment this morning concerning the Reds record since Votto went out. Yes, they've improved their record without him but you take his at bats out of their lineup and the rest of the team is hitting .244, with a .302 OBP and .424 slugging % without him.Not good.

Leaving hotel for the game on a cool, damp, foggy San Francisco day (a Mark Twain 'coldest winter = SF summer' kinda day). As I told my daughter last night, I would have liked for the Nats to save a few of those extra runs for tonight's game. Hoping that they keep hitting, even if they are 'seeing eye' singles. And expecting a solid Jordan Zimmermann-style start. GYFNG!

Finally got to last night's game on dvr. I noticed that there were some infield shenanigans again,( Astros, then Giants), and wondered what the heck is going on. The more I think about it – these teams don't necessarily play bad defense. Those infield hits might have been a little lucky in the babip department, but they were also scorched like they had been shot out of a cannon. The guys are also motoring and hustling full out, looking for any opportunity to take a base, score, tag up – anything. The Bryce Harper effect. My feeling after watching recent games is that the nats just press and press and press until something gives. Even in innings where they don't score, they are applying pressure. We often use the word – relentless – to describe the nats. I think it applies throughout the game and causes the other team to make mistakes.They play a very intense, energetic brand of baseball. I love it.

With all our catcher troubles, I never even heard of this guy.The Washington Nationals have released 29-year old righty swinging catcher Devin Ivany. Ivany was the last remaining player that came from the Montreal Expos when they moved to Washington. Ivany played in 49 games in AA-ball for the Nationals this year and he was 33 of 156 (.212 avg, .600 OPS) with 17 runs scored, 3 homers, 13 RBIs and 1 stolen base. He played 9 years in the minors for the Expos/Nationals, appearing in 642 games in which he was 530 of 2,177 (.243 avg, .678 OPS) with 282 runs scored, 51 homers, 264 RBIs and 44 stolen bases. This is no loss for the Nationals.

Amanda Comak ‏@acomak"Good news for Jayson Werth-MRI negative. Just walked in not wearing boot. No #nats lineup yet. Knowing Davey, be surprising to see him in it." Well, I guess she doesn't know Davey as well as she thinks she knows Davey.Don't even get me started…

So just finishing up the replay of last nights game and one thing I really love, is even though Gio is goofy and laughs, my oh my was he not happy about giving up that HR. Lip reading all those curse words was funny.

With all of the injuries and the Freitas trade they've done some shuffling in the catching corps.A journeyman named Jeff Howell started the year at Harrisburg, then moved up to Syracuse. Now he's down at Potomac.

The Nats' front office is not likely to pull the trigger on calling up Rendon. He's on the 40-man, so it's possible. Don't bet on it.Adam he has been wrong often enough … if Boz says it definitely won't happen that's a different story entirely.

BTW, "Davey" is not the same as the FO to whom Adam refers. Davey has and will continue to call guys up as he sees fit. In Rendon's case given the sudden sense of urgency the FO seems to have with the guy I suspect Davey will in call him up if he looks good in Harrisburg. Not so much to help the team this season but for next season. Davey, like Rizzo, is always looking ahead because that's the part of being in baseball he seems to enjoy more than most other aspects. I have to wonder if the sudden sense of urgency in Rendon's case doesn't also have it source in Davey.

Peric.. Amanda has the same info as Kilgore. but who knows, we could see him.Keep in mind, Davey decided when Harper was ready, not the front office. It it had been up to them he would have stayed in the minors almost certainly. I'm not saying whether that move was right or wrong … the jury is still out given his 2nd half slump and mental exhaustion. Rendon, however, is a completely different animal: a polished and complete ballplayer at age 22. But he also has yet to endure an entire season. Espinosa would be the closest comparison and Espy is still adjusting.

I still think that Rendon should earn it to be a September callup. I hope he crushes it in Harrisburg! By the way, the only reason Rendon is in the discussion is because he is on the 40 man as part of his draft signing negotiation.

This is a weird lineup tonight. One night Davey loves the idea of Werth leading off; the next night he's batting cleanup.Not many managers tinker with a lineup that produced 14 runs (on 21 hits!) the night before. Put Davey in the category of those who do.After ALR, this lineup kinda tails off badly although Lombo gives us a little spark at No. 8.

Werth has no power to speak of at this point … and that may be a permanent condition. But, he's a right handed bat and he gets on base. I'd be more worried about the thing Natslady seems most concerned by: fielding. Werth is not looking all that great in the outfield.

Keep in mind, Davey decided when Harper was ready, not the front office.Wasn't it Rizzo that went to Syracuse to scout him the week before, and decided that Harper was in the beginning of a hot streak?

Wasn't it Rizzo that went to Syracuse to scout him the week before, and decided that Harper was in the beginning of a hot streak?According to Rizzo Davey told him its time. Let's bring him up. What does that tell you?

From Kilgore: Today, Desmond took early batting practice and came through feeling healthy, and maybe a little playful.“They scared me earlier,” Johnson said. “Ian came in my office with [Rick] Eckstein. He had early hitting. He said, ‘I’m hurt.’ I said, ‘Oh no. How bad is it?’ He said, ‘My ears are hurting from the loud sound coming off my bat.’ He got me.”

@patriotnews_gmo: When told Davey Johnson told D.C. media Anthony Rendon might be Sept. call-up, #HbgSens mgr Matt LeCroy responds with … LeCroy: "Really? He had a good showing in ST, and if the manager sees something he likes, it's always on the back of his mind."

Everybody who wanted Valentine in place of Riggleman last year, raise your hands.I wasn't sure about anything except I wanted Riggleman retired and in Florida. Working for the AA BlueWahoos is in Florida so its close enough.

Pence and Belt had the right idea there…. Zimm has the best ERA in the majors, if he throws me a fastball down the middle to get ahead, I'm going to swing at it.our guys need to do the same against Madison.

Tyler Moore probably should be learning his new position in AAA but the Nats lack decent right-handed bats off of the bench. It retards his development as an everyday player but he does wield a dangerous bat and with Desmond out … he doesn't get to return to AAA to work on his fielding.

I know there's no place else to play the guy right now, but is there anybody out there who thinks this Tyler Moore experiment in left field is working?Said the same thing about LaRoche at first base in Pittsburgh the first three years. How's that working now? Moore doesn't have a lot of speed and he barely spent any time in AAA getting acclimated to left field.

Amanda Comack:Asked about Rendon this afternoon in San Francisco and whether or not he could possibly be a September call-up, Nationals manager Davey Johnson said "he might be.""Let's see how he finishes up," Johnson said. "This is the year of the young guys all around baseball. He's another one who's right in that mold… (But) his main thing is just getting into playing shape."Johnson also added: "As long as he's healthy that stroke of his will hunt on most levels."

Znn is getting rocked so far. FP finally noting that the ball is up. Carp always starts off talking up our pitcher as a Cy Young/HoF candidate. It's tiresome. Wait and see how he does before you do that.

You can't teach "radar." Tyler Moore could practice from now until the cows come home, and like Josh Willingham, he'll never be a good outfielder. All you can do is hope to hide him out there so as to get his bat in the lineup.

I'm inclined to give him the off season to work on stuff before concluding he's hopeless.T-Mo lacks both speed and confidence at this point in the outfield. It is recipe for disaster at this juncture. He has worked very hard to improve his game at first base and if he works hard in the offseason perhaps T-Mo will end up able to hold his own in left field. Its the bat they want to get into the lineup someway, somehow.

3-0 count…and that is what Werth does??? The Hammer now on pace for 42 HR and 123 RBI…he is almost as good as Jayson Werth. Do you think the Twinkies would make that trade…they would only have to spend another $100 million to make it happen! I mean the Twins must know that Werth is responsible for turning the Nats into a winner…he would have them in the Series in 2 years. Why wouldn't they want him? Oh yeah…he stinks!!!

Espinosa now with a higher batting average than Harper … it keeps creeping up … looks like he could be a real monster next season. The Nats might have the best overall infield in baseball next year taking into account all aspects of the game. Given what things were like just last season and especially before that's pretty amazing!

The Hammer now on pace for 42 HR and 123 RBI…he is almost as good as Jayson Werth.And Willingham is in the AL where they can hide his pretty poor fielding ability in the outfield by making him a DH. Which is likely what he will be almost full-time starting next year. It was a good call at the time. Besides what is the Twins record again? And what is the Nats record now and what was the Nats record when they had both Willingham's and Dunn's big power bats but terrible fielding?Werth didn't replace Willingham, Harper does. I'll take Harper you can keep the change. Werth replaces Elijah Dukes and Austin Kearns since he is in right field.

F&I, you're being a bit harsh on Werth. He's batting over .300, has been a great clubhouse influence on Bam-Bam and others, and has come through at the plate this year. He makes one out and you want to trade him for Josh "15-day disabled list" Willingham?I don't think so.Besides his contract makes Werth im-freaking-possible to trade.

222, I disagree. He gets no jump, has no speed, no grace, and a fair, at best, arm. He's actually a klutz out there. I don't wish the kid anything but good luck, but OF will never be his strong point, in my opinion.

So Danny says, thankyouverymuch, Tyler. I'll just play short and left… I suspect Danny was taking care of his teammate. He ducked under and let T-Mo have that ball, intentionally. They all most know T-Mo has confidence issues in the outfield and it behooves them to help out with that when they can. And as the leader on the field at shortstop that is likely what Espy was trying to do.

Werth didn't replace Willingham, Harper does. I'll take Harper you can keep the change.Well, perhaps I should say Morse and Harper if and when they ever get the ballyhooed and heralded CF. I think they should just stick with Corey Brown for now and avoid the Bourn, poor fielding singles hitting identity.

very frustrating… well played game and all it takes is one player having an off night. I love Drew, but this was his worst game as a pro in a meaningful situation. I would have no problem losing 2-1, but at least wanted the chance to be down 2-1.

Wow, Storen's ERA just jumped from 2.00 to 5.79. Didn't help that he was squeezed on calls by HP umpire Layne. Look like it's only a strike if the Giants hitters took a swing. Our hitters seem to have trouble and get overly anxious against control-type pitchers, something I hope they can break in the post-season.Still waiting for JFlores to make a statement with the bat in response to the Suzuki trade.

Bottom line Natlady. They need the beast and his fielding and his bat more than they need Jayson and his fielding and his bat. And Davey needs to start thinking about resting Harper more … the fact he doesn't tells me that the other top hitting prospect, Anthony Rendon, will get added to the roster for the playoff run after September 1st.

All one has to do is go down the list of all the recent playoff eligible teams fighting to get in and list the number of September callups that propel them to their destiny.Why, just look at the Yankees and the Phillies most recent runs and you can see how if it wasn't for the September call ups, they'd have never made it in.And finally, just look at the last two World Series winners and list all the September call ups that carried them to theor respective titles. One has to acknowledge if it wasn't for AAA and AA year end call ups, these teams would have never been able to reward their fans with the rewards of victory.

Yes, NatsJack, but one only has so much time and energy. I want to put mine into being positive. I agree MicheleS that we have a pretty fine team right here, right now. It is bringing this Grumpy Old Man of Baseball a lot of joy.